Solihull Moors: We Responded To The Challenge

FC Halifax Town recorded a comfortable 2-0 victory over promotion chasing Solihull Moors. Manager Jamie Fullarton spoke to Shaymen TV to give his thought on the game.

He said: “It was thoroughly deserved. The players responded to the hard work during the week and it’s pleasing to see it bear fruit today. The performance was great, against a team that’s pushing for the title. I think they’ve probably gone under the radar and not got the credit they deserve. They were second on goal difference, so it was a challenge for us. A challenge we responded to and the work we’ve done during the week, has borne fruit. It’s credit to the players. We had the subtle change in a tactical angle. They picked it up, grasped it and it’s pleasing to see that.”

He said: “They’ve been brought in to add that competition. After the Havant game I mention the importance of having competition. In those attacking positions. When you’ve got the competition like we had today, and we’ve had over the last six or seven games, it means that you can change it and it gets an extra ten or 15 percent. Both players have been brought in to add value and I don’t think there is any doubt that both have added value. It’s great that both goal scorers are attacking players, they want to score goals. They feel they are judged on the goals that they score. I thought both today, along with Scott [Quigley], when he came on were excellent.”

Solihull were reduced to ten men just before the break after a poor tackle from Lee Vaughan. Fullarton is confident that the referee made the right call on this occasion.

He said: “It was very high. We very obviously punished in the Havant game, with James Berrett having received a red card for a tackle that was a lot lower. I don’t think the referee had any option but to send him off. Simply because of how reckless and dangerous it was.”

Despite having the man advantage. Fullarton was confident they would get the result even against 11 men.

He said: “Let’s not cloud the performance and take anything away from the game because at 11 against 11, we were better. We were worthy going in 1-0 up. They mustered a good chance from a header from the second phase of a corner. However, we created multiple chances today from breaking away and were disappointed to only go one up at half time.”

Town recorded their 18th clean sheet of the season, so it’s no surprise that we have the 4th best defence in the league. Fullarton took time to praise the players especially after a tactical change.

He said: “I think particularly at home, nine goals in 19 games, whatever level you play at is credit. It’s the team and it’s the way they play. Even with the change in shape today, we went as what I refer to as a 4-3.5-2.5. The players grasped it and worked hard on it during the weak. From a coaching aspect it’s pleasing to see that when they put it into practice, that you get such a result. It’s only three points. I’ve stated since the first week that we’re going to try and win every game. No matter who we play or where they are in the league and that’ll be no different on Tuesday.”

The Shaymen face Ebbsfleet United on Tuesday after the game originally got postponed. Fullarton is confident that the team can produce a similar performance and get another good result.

He said: “We’ll make sure we prepare properly. When you have a quick turnover of Saturday – Tuesday – Saturday, rest and recovery is the key. Those messages you feel to reinforce what our strengths our, to hopefully exploit their weaknesses.”